The Center for Public Integrity on Friday filed a motion in federal court to try to force the Trump administration to hand over documents regarding its decision to withhold military aid from Ukraine.
The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges redactions on more than 100 pages of documents released by the Pentagon in response to the center’s Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
“This is not a case of federal agencies asserting an aggressive, good-faith interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act,” the center said.
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An attorney for the Pentagon explained the redactions, citing three exemptions in the law that protect privacy, “sensitive information of foreign governments” and “privileged” records generated during the “deliberative process.”
Some Democratic members of Congress also objected to the redactions, suggesting that the White House was hiding something.
“The Center for Public Integrity sued in federal court for documents related to the Ukraine scandal, and this is what they got,” said Rep. Veronica EscobarVeronica EscobarMedia organization fights Trump administration over Ukraine documents FOIA The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Presented by UANI — Sparks fly as House Judiciary debates impeachment articles Live coverage: House Judiciary to vote on impeachment after surprise delay MORE (D-Texas), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which on Friday passed two articles of impeachment against President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrats ask if they have reason to worry about UK result Trump scramble to rack up accomplishments gives conservatives heartburn Seven years after Sandy Hook, the politics of guns has changed MORE. “They won in court, but what they got were heavily redacted documents. Why? Because the president doesn’t want these documents to see the light of day.”
“The courts continue to rule in favor of transparency, and I hope the judge will do so again,” added House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerMedia organization fights Trump administration over Ukraine documents FOIA On The Money: Trump, China announce ‘Phase One’ trade deal | Supreme Court takes up fight over Trump financial records | House panel schedules hearing, vote on new NAFTA deal House panel to hold hearing, vote on Trump’s new NAFTA proposal MORE (D-Md.). “No one is above the law, not even this president, and Congress will continue to uphold the rule of law and its duty to conduct oversight.”
The holdup of the nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine is at the heart of the House’s current impeachment investigation into Trump, with Democrats and a handful of witnesses alleging that it was leveraged to pressure Ukraine to open investigations into former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenDemocrats ask if they have reason to worry about UK result Media organization fights Trump administration over Ukraine documents FOIA Buttigieg releases list of campaign bundlers MORE, one of Trump’s chief political rivals, and 2016 election meddling.
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